Chapter 19: Night Before Separation

Seeing this, the thugs glared at Gu Xian viciously, then quietly left in disappointment.

After watching the excitement, everyone dispersed, and Gu Xian and Yun Shang also prepared to return to the inn to discuss the next plan.

"It's amazing." On the way back, Yun Shang exclaimed, "A living person disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye."

Gu Xian said: "That's why so many people want to practice hard. As long as their cultivation is improved, they can get rid of many physical shackles and be freer and more at ease."

Yun Shang looked at the clear sky and sighed, "But it will cost a lot."

For example, she was forced into this crappy book, where she had to either practice or die.

Who the hell dares not to practice this?

"Because these are against the laws of nature, the road to cultivation is full of hardships. The further you go, the fewer people will persevere." Gu Xian thought Yun Shang was tired because of the many dangers along the way, and wanted to cheer her up, "But as long as you can persevere, you will see a different scenery. Didn't you advise me to have confidence yesterday? Why are you a little discouraged today?"

"No, it's just a sudden feeling." Yun Shang said with a smile: "I still want to fly around the continent with the Shura Sword you gave me, how can I give up. Speaking of this, Father Li is really a matter of fate. He is an ordinary person and he has received the elixir from Master Mo Wen twice."

"That's what fate is." Gu Xian said, "But I guess there's another reason why Father Li got the elixir today."

"what reason?"

"I looked at Old Man Li's face and saw that he was losing his vitality. He must be nearing the end of his life."

Yun Shang was surprised, "But he looks rosy-cheeked and in good spirits."

"Even if one is healthy and free from disasters, he will die when his life span comes to an end. But it is a blessing if he does not die in pain." Gu Xian said, "This is the way of heaven. There is nothing we can do about it."

Yun Shang was speechless and felt helpless about her fate.

"The longevity pill is considered a primary pill. A cultivator can improve his cultivation by taking it, while an ordinary person can extend his life by twenty years. If I'm not mistaken, Father Li is eighty years old this year. After taking the longevity pill, it just happened to fulfill Master Mo Wen's blessing to him that he would live a hundred years."

"...Master Mo Wen is a kind person." Yun Shang was particularly touched, but also had doubts, "Is changing the age of ordinary people considered to be against the way of heaven? Master Mo Wen will not be punished by heaven, right?"

"For a person with the cultivation level of Master Mo Wen, the small punishment of sending pills cannot hurt him at all." Gu Xian smiled and said, "Besides, he is willing to help Old Man Li, which proves that Old Man Li has accumulated blessings for at least three lifetimes. He helps good people, which is actually accumulating blessings for himself."

"I see." Yun Shang realized, "This is actually a kind of mutual complementation."

Gu Xian nodded, "Smart."

…

The two of them walked very quickly and soon arrived at the door of the inn.

It was the busiest time of the day on the street, with people rushing around. The inn owned by the Big Knife Shop opposite had guests coming in and out. Only the area outside the Lao Meng Inn seemed to be isolated by some mysterious force. There was not even a cat or dog, which formed a very sharp contrast with the entire street.

"If you want to chat, come in and chat. Why are you standing outside my store?" Lao Meng's voice came faintly from the store, "Don't disturb my business."

Gu Xian stepped over the threshold and said with a smile, "You speak as if you really have business here."

Old Meng glanced at him and snorted arrogantly.

Yun Shang could see that Gu Xian was very familiar with Lao Meng and had a relationship with him as his master, so he spoke casually. But she didn't dare to do that, so she walked into the store and greeted Lao Meng politely.

Old Meng was sitting in the accounting office. He was not drinking, and was studying a pile of bamboo strips.

These bamboo strips look very old, their surfaces have turned brown, and they have been polished to be smooth and shiny.

"You are looking at this again." Gu Xian sat down and poured two cups of tea, pushing one of them to Yun Shang, "Old Meng, what exactly is written on this bamboo slip?"

When he said this, his face showed a curiosity that matched his age, and it was very vivid.

In fact, Yun Shang was also very curious, but she didn't dare to ask.

She guessed that this pile of things might be related to Lao Meng's sweetheart.

When he looked at the bamboo strips, his eyes were very gentle, as if he was treating a treasure.

"What's your business? Kids, don't meddle in other people's business." Old Meng put the bamboo stick aside and had the rare intention of chatting with them. "Why, is it lively and interesting?"

"It looks great." Gu Xian said excitedly, "I saw Master Mo Wen from Wu Ya Sect."

Without even raising his eyes, Lao Meng took out his wine gourd from under the counter and said, "Oh."

Yun Shang: …

This is really hard to accept.

Fortunately, Gu Xian was already familiar with Old Meng's character, and he continued to vividly recount the story of how Master Mo Wen extended Old Man Li's life.

"Old Man Li can live a long life now." After Gu Xian finished his summary, he drank the tea in the cup in one breath.

Unexpectedly, after hearing this, Lao Meng snorted coldly and said with disdain: "He really likes to meddle in other people's business, but I've only met him once or twice."

"Master, his personality is different from yours." Gu Xian did not argue with him about this issue.

Yun Shang said, "We have already rest enough, Brother Xian, it seems there is no need to stay here any longer. Let's go to the Big Sword Shop to exchange for tickets tomorrow."

"So urgent?" Gu Xian was stunned, a little surprised.

"There's no point in waiting any longer." Yun Shang said, "This way you can go back and report to your master earlier. I've already wasted too much of your time."

"This..." Gu Xian felt a little reluctant, but after thinking about it, he found no reason to persuade her to stay.

"Today is the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and tonight is the full moon." Lao Meng put down his wine gourd and suddenly said, "I'll make some food and eat in the yard."

"Thank you." Yun Shang smiled and said, "I'll have a few more drinks tonight."

…

Yun Shang looked up at the sky. Old Meng was right. The moon was almost full today. The bright moonlight dyed the small courtyard with a layer of silver, with a gentle and peaceful beauty.

Lao Meng cooked three dishes in the evening, in addition to the usual braised beef and vegetables, there was also a plate of roast chicken.

Of course, the dishes tasted just as ordinary as always, and the highlight was still the wine.

Yun Shang liked the taste of Lihuabai and decided to drink a few more glasses even if she got drunk.

Gu Xian took a sip of wine and looked at Yun Shang with some worry in his eyes. "You will set off tomorrow. This time you will really be traveling alone... Mushui Town is very different from here. It is close to the cultivation area in the north, and there are many hidden dangers. You have to be more careful about everything and think twice before making a decision."

"I understand. I will be careful and will not act impulsively." Seeing his worried look, Yun Shang was touched. "Brother Xian, don't worry about me. I'm fine."

"How can I not worry?" Gu Xian shook his head helplessly, "You are only five or six years old, you have not experienced the world, and your cultivation is not high..."

At this moment, he suddenly felt a little regretful that he had rejected Yun Shang's suggestion to go to Mushui Town together.

Even though it's only a little regret, it's real.

But now, he couldn't say that he wanted to go with her. He still had a master to follow, and he still had his own way to practice. This feeling of melancholy bothered him a little, but it couldn't affect his life.

"It's no big deal." Yun Shang smiled heartily. "You have to walk the path of life by yourself. Who can accompany anyone for a lifetime? Even if we part ways, you and I still have each other as friends in our hearts. This is more important than anything else."

Gu Xian thought for a moment, "That's right."

"Besides, traveling around by myself can be considered a form of cultivation." Yun Shang shrugged nonchalantly. "If something unexpected happens or I die outside, it proves that I am too weak and do not conform to the survival rules of this continent."

"You...ah..." Gu Xian wanted to say something but stopped. He felt that she had pointed out the essence of the problem and could not find any words to refute. In the end, he shook his head and just sighed.

It was the first time that Yun Shang saw the optimistic and cheerful Gu Xian looking sad. She knew that he was worried about her, so she tried to cheer him up, "Okay, Brother Xian, don't be like this. You are only eighteen years old. It's not good to look sad. It will affect your mood for cultivation. Come on and smile."

Gu Xian was young to begin with, and his sense of humour was low, so he couldn't resist being teased and burst out laughing.

"What are you two laughing at here?"

Old Meng walked over following the sound of laughter, with a suspicious look on his face.

"We are chatting." Yun Shang answered casually.

"Chatting?" Lao Meng put down his rolled-up sleeves, sat in his rattan chair, squinted his eyes and took a sip of wine, "I'm afraid this silly boy is worried about you."

Gu Xian smiled and said, "I can't hide anything from you."

"I've watched you grow up, how could I not understand your personality?" Old Meng squinted at him, "You are kind-hearted and nosy. If you develop feelings, you will be even more worried."

Gu Xian didn't refute, but just pouted mischievously.

"Don't worry too much." Lao Meng put down the wine gourd. "Everyone has his own destiny and path to take. Yun Shang is not that weak. On the surface, she looks like a beautiful flower, delicate and weak, but in fact, she has a strong heart and it is not so easy to break her."

Yun Shang: …

Is this a disgrace or a compliment?

"That's true." Gu Xian agreed with Lao Meng's words.

Gu Xian was not a person who particularly liked drinking, but considering that they would be separated tomorrow, he risked his life to accompany Junzi and Yun Shang in drinking cups.

Unexpectedly, Yun Shang was not completely drunk, but Gu Xian was extremely drunk and fell asleep crookedly on Lao Meng's rattan chair.

"Senior Meng, I offer you a toast." Yun Shang raised her glass, her tongue a little tangled, "Thank you for brewing such a good wine."

"Since you are praising my wine, then I will drink a glass with you." Lao Meng raised his wine gourd, clinked it with Yun Shang's cup, squinted his eyes and took a big sip.

After they finished the glass of wine, there was some silence.

Yun Shang was not as talkative as Gu Xian, and didn't know what to talk about with Lao Meng. She could only eat and drink under the moonlight.